almost 2 year old presents

[Altair]

I see there are a lot of threads on this!  We have a Montessori/Waldorf approach to toys and organizing our space, which actually works well since we're in a 2 BD in NYC and space is not in abundance. 

My son doesn't sleep in his room yet, so it's mainly a play space with a twin size air mattress as a kind of on the floor day bed/reading nook.  We have it organized now with a reading area, corner with a rug and 2 playstands and baskets of toys (organized by type), and another rug with a table and 2 chairs and 2 shelves of basic art supplies.  In our LR we have one shelf that is his that we rotate toys into for him to play with in the LR. 

So right now we have:

LR:

- basket of books

- 2 puzzles

- stacking toy

- basket of wooden trains

not a good picture of LR set up:

His favorite thing to do out here is to spread the trains out all over the floor, play and clean up.  He just has a basic set right now and this is by far his favorite toy.

Bedroom:

- art center (crayons, corks, small chalkboards and chalk, paper, stickers)

- book nook (lambskin, books, seasonal books on display)

- playstands area (baskets of-- musical toys, transportation toys, silks, knit balls, wooden blocks, puzzles)

Kitchen:

- a matching play kitchen to our kitchen

He also has:

- waldorf dolls

- getting a balance bike from granparents

- scooter from same

- kettler push tricycle from same

- radio flyer car to drive around the house

- rocking airplace

- wooden push seat/stroller thing

So... there really isn't any more room in his room, but what I really want to get him is:

http://www.threesisterstoys.com/p-84-play-table.aspx

to put his trains on so he doesn't have to clean them up every time.  but then that would take over the playstands corner and they would have to just line the back wall. 

or a wooden dollhouse/barn, something that is small and versatile.  He has a few wooden animals but they are still too small for him to play with, but won't be for long. 

Any suggestions? I feel like we have a lot right now, but when I have a little money to invest I want to get a few things that will last him into childhood, which is why I'm thinking trains or dollhouse/barn/castle. 

[kateye]

My DS is 2.5 and not super into toys (although he will do some pretend play with playmobil 123 and/or wooden people for a short period every day, but this pretend play is not especially sophisticated--we considered the barn/house for him, but I don't think he is ready for this)...his favorite things are his riding toy, a pushcart/walker, a tiny canvas shopping bag, and stuff to put in the cart and the bag.  He loves to drive his "car" to the "store", pretend his blocks are groceries or food and load them into the bag, then put them in the cart, push them around, take them out, put them back in again.  Also, he has just gotten very into playdoh (I hate the smell, so bought him some "eco-dough" but we have not tried it out yet).  We are getting him a bigger pushcart for christmas (from community playthings) as his tiny walker doesn't hold much and a few of the large "hollow blocks" from community playthings--I am not sure what he will do with them yet!

I think all the riding toys/balance bike, etc. are great--seems like that is what toddlers need to do--move and use their bodies!  The open-ended toys (blocks, larger stacking toys, things they can carry, things that can be used to carry things--bags, boxes) have been most used.  Does your DS have any human figures?  We have a family of Ostheimer people that are lovely and get used for some pretend play (they are going swimming, they are going to the store, they are walking up the stairs to the attic, they are opening presents, etc.)--these are larger and would be age appropriate for years (would work w/ a farmhouse if you decided to get one later).  What about a starter block set?  Our DS doesn't really build with them yet, but they are used in all kinds of other ways!  And the stacking toy rings get used as doughnuts, bagels, and make-shift gauges on his toy car (he rarely tries to stack them though).  

Sorry this post is so rambly!  

[Altair]

We really have a lot of push and mobility toys. 

I want to get a one/two room simple barn/dollhouse and I'm having a hard time finding something that is simple and can be played with multiple ways. 

Something like this:

http://www.novanatural.com/toys/sarahs-cottage

but I'm not 100% sold on that one... anyone know of any others?  I looked at some of the simple tree houses too, but wasn't sure if he could break them at this age. 

[aussiemumma]

HI

we have the ostheimer barn and it is used as a barn and a dollhouse. DD received it for Christmas just before she was two. It is played with every day by DD (now almost 4) and DS (1yo).

We have Sleich and Ostheimer animals and they are receiving a family as well this year from Ostheimer. It has no furniture as they are happy creating a space within that space themselves.

Another toy that they are receiving is the rainbow stacker. I am not sure if you have that yet but they are great.

Also play silks are wonderful and dress ups. At the moment I have rotated some long strands of beads into the dressup box and everyday they become something different, it's amazing.

Good luck, your play space looks lovely.

C

[Altair]

Which barn do you have?  The colored one with the loft and open blue doors, or the all wood one with stables inside?

We are looking at the colored one.  

[nanette0269]

I think this one is beautiful

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350368953479&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1156

[nanette0269]

and this one...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Groses-Bauernhaus-Bauernhof-/350300483944?pt=DE_AllesfüsKind_Spielzeug_Holzspielzeug&hash=item518f893168#ht_500wt_1156

[Altair]

Yea, the second one is the one I want, but it says you have to contact the seller for international orders, and s/he's not responding!